University of North Carolina is getting pummeled for hosting Women's March leader despite anti-Semitic sympathies

The University of North Carolina-Asheville is being criticized for its decision to host Women's March leader Tamika Mallory despite her reticence to condemn anti-Semitism in several instances.

Mallory has been confronted about her support for Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan who has repeatedly made anti-Semitic and bigoted comments. Rather than condemn the comments, Mallory said that she didn't "agree with many of Minister Farrakhan's statements.

UNC is having Mallory speak for an hour and a half on Martin Luther King Jr. Week, according to Campus Reform.

The university defended its decision in a statement, claiming that it was defending free speech while not approving of Mallory's less savory opinions.

"The Constitutional and democratic principles of freedom of thought and expression are central to our mission as a university," the statement read, "especially during the day honoring the legacy and enduring values of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. As has been our custom, the university's invitation to an individual speaker at a university event in no way implies endorsement of that speaker's comments, critiques, views, ideas, or actions.

"Further, the university's fundamental principles reject bias in all of its forms including anti-Semitism and discrimination," the statement concluded.

The North Carolina Hillel, an organization representing Jewish communities in 15 campuses in North Carolina, decried the decision by the university.

The group criticized Mallory and her co-chairs for their "failure to address the concerns of anti-Semitism within the Women's March movement."